Fear, false patriotism fuel fight against New York mosque

Matthew Dennis

Wednesday

Aug 25, 2010 at 12:01 AM

Late in 2001, the president and Congress designated Sept. 11 as Patriot Day, a discretionary day of remembrance for the nearly 3,000 people killed by terrorists in lower Manhattan, the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pa.

It was a sincere but odd tribute, given that the victims were no more and no less patriotic than the rest of us. They had not sought to give their lives for their country. They were a diverse group of unsuspecting and innocent victims. And the United States already had a Patriots’ Day, which commemorates the Minutemen who fought at Lexington and Concord, Mass., igniting the American Revolution on April 19, 1775.

Americans who aggressively oppose a proposed Islamic cultural center in New York City two blocks from ground zero seem determined to confirm Dr. Johnson’s dictionary definition: “Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.” Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty has said, for example, “I think it’s inappropriate. ... From a patriotic standpoint, it’s hallowed ground, it’s sacred ground, and we should respect that. We shouldn’t ... degrade or disrespect that in any way.”

How might a 13-story community center that will include a conference hall, a culinary school, a basketball court, a swimming pool, and, yes, a place of worship that caters to the Muslim community (but is open to all), constitute a degradation?

It depends on how we define “hallowed ground,” how we look upon Muslims and their faith, and how we regard the U.S. Constitution and the most basic principles of American democracy and freedom.

The former World Trade Center site is not “hallowed ground” in any formal sense. It has not been officially designated as holy — and in any case, which of our many religious authorities would we authorize to sanctify it? It is, tragically, a terrain marred by violence and death — a place of mass murder that will continue to cast shadows.

But should it become a vast mausoleum, a permanent memorial to American victimhood? Or should it be rebuilt and rededicated to the creative spirit and dynamism that has long characterized New York City as America’s economic capital?

What about the surrounding blocks? Are they sacred? They do include the soaring Woolworth’s Building, an architectural masterpiece once the tallest building in the world, and Mammon central — the New York Stock Exchange.

But this “hallowed ground” features other exemplars of American free enterprise: numerous fast-food restaurants, bars, nail salons, vacant storefronts, the New York Dolls Gentleman’s Club, an off-track betting establishment and street corner peddlers hawking trinkets and T-shirts. If this urban space is sacred, what is profane?

The perpetrators of the mass murder on Sept. 11, 2001, do not represent worldwide Islam. Americans tend to lump Muslims together, but Islam is the second largest religion in the world and is varied theologically, ethnically and geographically. More Muslims live in Indonesia than any other country, and some 80 percent of Muslims reside outside of the Middle East. More than 5 million Muslims live in the United States; they are as diverse and “American” as America itself.

As it happens, Feisal Abdul Rauf, the imam or spiritual leader promoting the community center (now called the Park51 project), is such an ambassador of peace and toleration that the U.S. State Department employs him abroad in its efforts to promote America and its values to an increasingly suspicious world.

We should reject guilt by association — especially the imaginary (and bigoted) association of American Muslims with the likes of al Qaeda. The Department of Defense certainly recognizes the difference, having scheduled Muslim prayer services in the Pentagon’s memorial chapel that was built near where 184 died in 2001.

Most importantly, the false patriotism of Park51 opponents violates the U.S. Constitution and Americans’ indispensable right to religious freedom.

The First Amendment guarantees freedom of religious practice and protects our particular religious observances from interference and repression. Such toleration and freedom was championed not merely for its own sake but because our framers recognized the diversity of believers in the United States.

In our pluralistic country, no faith is safe if any faith is oppressed on the one hand, or officially institutionalized on the other.

Fear does not change this formula for freedom, and Americans should display enough courage and confidence to uphold their laws and their principles against fear-mongering demagogues.

What would be the implications of government repression of a Muslim community center in lower Manhattan? Who’s next? “Patriotic” Americans should be careful what they wish for.

We should be sensitive to the feelings of 9/11 mourners, some of whom oppose the Park51 project. But we must also serve the higher purpose of American law, liberty and truth.

We should not indulge the ignorant views of some who demonize Islam and fearfully abandon the Constitution. And we should not endorse the craven politicians who cultivate fear, misdirect American wrath, endanger American freedom and compromise our reputation throughout the world.

Matthew Dennis (mjdennis@uoregon.edu) is a professor of history and environmental studies at the University of Oregon.

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